Chapter 3: The Secret Inside the Envelope
Nathan refused to open the envelope in front of the guests.
Instead, he took my hand and led me into a private library adjoining the ballroom.
Victoria followed us.
So did Brittany.
My mother attempted to come with us, but my father caught her arm.
For the first time in years, he didn't automatically follow.
My mother attempted to come with us, but my father caught her arm.
For the first time in years, he didn't automatically follow her wishes.
"Let them speak," he said quietly.
The library smelled of polished mahogany and her wishes.
"Let them speak," he said quietly.
The library smelled of polished mahogany and old books. Rain tapped against the tall windows, darkening the gardens outside.
Nathan shut the door.
"Give me the envelope," he told his mother.
Victoria placed it on the desk.
"I had hoped to avoid this conversation.""
"Then you shouldn't have brought it to my wedding.""
She old books. Rain tapped against the tall windows, darkening the gardens outside.
Nathan shut the door.
"Give me the envelope," he told his mother.
Victoria placed it on the desk.
"I had hoped to avoid this conversation.""
"Then you shouldn't have brought it to my wedding.""
She pressed her lips together.
Brittany moved toward the fireplace, her enormous train whispering across the rug.
"I don't understand why everyone is acting like I'm a criminal," she said.
"I borrowed a dress.""
I turned toward her.
"You entered a locked room, removed a gown worth a million dollars, and wore it to my wedding without permission.""
"You're exaggerating the value.""
"I have the insurance valuation.""
"That's just a number on paper.""
"Then take it off.""
pressed her lips together.
Brittany moved toward the fireplace, her enormous train whispering across the rug.
"I don't understand why everyone is acting like I'm a criminal," she said.
"I borrowed a dress.""
I turned toward her.
"You entered a locked room, removed a gown worth a million dollars, and wore it to my wedding without permission.""
"You're exaggerating the value.""
"I have the insurance valuation.""
"That's just a number on paper.""
"Then take it off.""
She looked at me with open contempt.
"No.""
Nathan stepped between us.
"Brittany, remove the dress. Now.""
She stared at him.
"Why are you defending her?""
"Because she is my fiancéeShe looked at me with open contempt.
"No.""
Nathan stepped between us.
"Brittany, remove the dress. Now.""
She stared at him.
"Why are you defending her?""
"Because she is my fiancée.""
"But you haven't married her yet.""
The words came out before she could stop them.
Silence filled the room.
Nathan's expression changed.
"What exactly are you trying to say?""
Brittany's.""
"But you haven't married her yet.""
The words came out before she could stop them.
Silence filled the room.
Nathan's expression changed.
"What exactly are you trying to say?""
Brittany's gaze flickered toward Victoria.
My future mother-in-law answered for her.
"Your sister-in-law has been involved in a number of questionable arrangements. I thought you should know before signing a marriage gaze flickered toward Victoria.
My future mother-in-law answered for her.
"Your sister-in-law has been involved in a number of questionable arrangements. I thought you should know before signing a marriage certificate.""
I almost laughed.
"Questionable arrangements?""
Victoria opened the envelope and withdrew several documents.
"The Hayes family trust has been under review for months. Certain transfers were made without the proper disclosures. Your father certificate.""
I almost laughed.
"Questionable arrangements?""
Victoria opened the envelope and withdrew several documents.
"The Hayes family trust has been under review for months. Certain transfers were made without the proper disclosures. Your father has been asking questions about money that disappeared from an account connected to your grandmother's estate.""
I looked at the documents.
They were photocopies of bank statements, trust records, and a legal memorandum.
Some of the account numbers has been asking questions about money that disappeared from an account connected to your grandmother's estate.""
I looked at the documents.
They were photocopies of bank statements, trust records, and a legal memorandum.
Some of the account numbers were familiar.
Others were not.
"My grandmother's estate was settled six years ago," I said.
"Exactly," Victoria replied.
"And yet someone has continued to move money through accounts connected to were familiar.
Others were not.
"My grandmother's estate was settled six years ago," I said.
"Exactly," Victoria replied.
"And yet someone has continued to move money through accounts connected to it.""
Nathan picked up the memorandum.
"Who prepared this?""
"An investigator I hired.""
"You hired a private investigator to investigate Madison?""
"I hired someone to protect you.""
Nathan's it.""
Nathan picked up the memorandum.
"Who prepared this?""
"An investigator I hired.""
"You hired a private investigator to investigate Madison?""
"I hired someone to protect you.""
Nathan's voice turned cold.
"From my future wife?""
"From a family that has spent years concealing its financial problems.""
I took the document from him.
The investigator had identified three transfers totaling voice turned cold.
"From my future wife?""
"From a family that has spent years concealing its financial problems.""
I took the document from him.
The investigator had identified three transfers totaling $2.4 million. Each had been made to a holding company registered under a name I had never seen before.
But there was something wrong with the dates.
Two transfers $2.4 million. Each had been made to a holding company registered under a name I had never seen before.
But there was something wrong with the dates.
Two transfers had occurred before I inherited my grandmother's shares in the family trust.
The third had occurred after I established my design company.
And every transaction had been authorized using a digital signature that appeared to belong to had occurred before I inherited my grandmother's shares in the family trust.
The third had occurred after I established my design company.
And every transaction had been authorized using a digital signature that appeared to belong to me.
I felt the room tilt slightly.
"These signatures are forged," I said.
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Are they?""
"Yes.""
"How convenient.""
Nathan slammed the memorandum onto the desk.
"Enough.""
Victoria turned toward him.
"You need to understand that Madison's me.
I felt the room tilt slightly.
"These signatures are forged," I said.
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"Are they?""
"Yes.""
"How convenient.""
Nathan slammed the memorandum onto the desk.
"Enough.""
Victoria turned toward him.
"You need to understand that Madison's family has a history of financial instability. Her father nearly lost his company five years ago. Her mother has repeatedly asked for assistance. If you marry into this family without proper protections, your own assets could be exposed.""
I looked at her.
There family has a history of financial instability. Her father nearly lost his company five years ago. Her mother has repeatedly asked for assistance. If you marry into this family without proper protections, your own assets could be exposed.""
I looked at her.
There it was.
Not concern.
Not evidence.
An attempt to make Nathan afraid of marrying me.
"You said the dress was about family," I reminded her.
"Now we're discussing money.""
"Because it was.
Not concern.
Not evidence.
An attempt to make Nathan afraid of marrying me.
"You said the dress was about family," I reminded her.
"Now we're discussing money.""
"Because the money matters.""
"To whom?""
Her face tightened.
"To everyone in this room.""
I turned toward Brittany.
"Is that why you stole my dress?""
She crossed her arms.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did Victoria promise you the money matters.""
"To whom?""
Her face tightened.
"To everyone in this room.""
I turned toward Brittany.
"Is that why you stole my dress?""
She crossed her arms.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did Victoria promise you something?""
Brittany laughed.
"Nobody promised me anything.""
"Then why did you write that the rest would happen after the ceremony?""
Her face went white.
Nathan turned sharply.
"What note?""
I something?""
Brittany laughed.
"Nobody promised me anything.""
"Then why did you write that the rest would happen after the ceremony?""
Her face went white.
Nathan turned sharply.
"What note?""
I reached into my pocket and handed him the folded paper Margaret had found.
He read it once.
Then again.
His jaw tightened.
"Where did you get this?""
"From a housekeeper.""
Brittany lunged toward him.
reached into my pocket and handed him the folded paper Margaret had found.
He read it once.
Then again.
His jaw tightened.
"Where did you get this?""
"From a housekeeper.""
Brittany lunged toward him.
"That's private!""
Nathan pulled the paper away.
"Private? You planned to interfere with our wedding.""
"I was trying to help!""
"Help whom?""
She looked at Victoria.
That"That's private!""
Nathan pulled the paper away.
"Private? You planned to interfere with our wedding.""
"I was trying to help!""
"Help whom?""
She looked at Victoria.
That was all the answer I needed.
Nathan placed the note beside the financial documents.
"Mother, what exactly happens after the ceremony?""
Victoria's expression remained composed, but her fingers had begun tapping against her handbag.
"Nothing was all the answer I needed.
Nathan placed the note beside the financial documents.
"Mother, what exactly happens after the ceremony?""
Victoria's expression remained composed, but her fingers had begun tapping against her handbag.
"Nothing happens. Brittany was upset. She wrote something foolish.""
"Then why did you tell her I'd do what the family expected once the truth came out?""
For the first time, Victoria appeared genuinely alarm happens. Brittany was upset. She wrote something foolish.""
"Then why did you tell her I'd do what the family expected once the truth came out?""
For the first time, Victoria appeared genuinely alarmed.
She looked at Brittany.
Brittany looked back.
They had both made the same mistake.
They had assumed Nathan would accept whatever explanation his mother provided.
He had spent his entire life being trained to do exactly that.
But he was no longered.
She looked at Brittany.
Brittany looked back.
They had both made the same mistake.
They had assumed Nathan would accept whatever explanation his mother provided.
He had spent his entire life being trained to do exactly that.
But he was no longer a boy.
He was a man who had watched his mother humiliate the woman he loved in front of hundreds of people.
And something inside him had finally broken.
"Mother," he said, "answer me.""
Victoria straightened her shoulders.
"Your grandfather left a boy.
He was a man who had watched his mother humiliate the woman he loved in front of hundreds of people.
And something inside him had finally broken.
"Mother," he said, "answer me.""
Victoria straightened her shoulders.
"Your grandfather left provisions in his estate that were intended to protect the Ashford family.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"Madison's marriage to you would create certain complications.""
"What complications?""
She provisions in his estate that were intended to protect the Ashford family.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
"Madison's marriage to you would create certain complications.""
"What complications?""
She looked at me with undisguised hostility.
"Your grandfather believed that if you married a woman whose family had financial interests in the same development projects, those interests might be used to influence the Ashford estate.""
Nathan stared at her.
"My grandfather died twelve years ago.""
"His legal arrangements remain valid.""
"Then why have you never mentioned them looked at me with undisguised hostility.
"Your grandfather believed that if you married a woman whose family had financial interests in the same development projects, those interests might be used to influence the Ashford estate.""
Nathan stared at her.
"My grandfather died twelve years ago.""
"His legal arrangements remain valid.""
"Then why have you never mentioned them?""
Victoria's silence was more revealing than any confession.
I picked up the memorandum and examined the final page.
There, in small print, was a reference to a trust amendment executed eight years earlier.
The document named a beneficiary.
Not Nathan?""
Victoria's silence was more revealing than any confession.
I picked up the memorandum and examined the final page.
There, in small print, was a reference to a trust amendment executed eight years earlier.
The document named a beneficiary.
Not Nathan.
Not Victoria.
Not even my father.
It named my grandmother, Eleanor Hayes, who had died two years before the amendment was supposedly signed.
I looked up.
"This document is fraudulent.""
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"You are.
Not Victoria.
Not even my father.
It named my grandmother, Eleanor Hayes, who had died two years before the amendment was supposedly signed.
I looked up.
"This document is fraudulent.""
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"You are not qualified to make that determination.""
"I'm a business owner. I review contracts every week. The amendment references an account that didn't exist when it was supposedly created.""
Nathan leaned over my shoulder.
"She's right.""
Victoria took a not qualified to make that determination.""
"I'm a business owner. I review contracts every week. The amendment references an account that didn't exist when it was supposedly created.""
Nathan leaned over my shoulder.
"She's right.""
Victoria took a step backward.
I continued reading.
"The notary listed here retired seven years before the document date. His commission was revoked.""
Brittany began breathing rapidly.
"Can we stop talking step backward.
I continued reading.
"The notary listed here retired seven years before the document date. His commission was revoked.""
Brittany began breathing rapidly.
"Can we stop talking about this? I have a headache.""
I turned toward her.
"You were the one who brought the dress into this room. You were the one who wanted everyone to believe I had something to hide. So about this? I have a headache.""
I turned toward her.
"You were the one who brought the dress into this room. You were the one who wanted everyone to believe I had something to hide. So let's talk.""
She looked at me with hatred.
"You always do this.""
"Do what?""
"Make me look stupid.""
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
"You don't need let's talk.""
She looked at me with hatred.
"You always do this.""
"Do what?""
"Make me look stupid.""
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
"You don't need my help with that.""
Her face twisted.
"You think you're better than me because you have a company and a rich fiancé. You think everyone should bow down because my help with that.""
Her face twisted.
"You think you're better than me because you have a company and a rich fiancé. You think everyone should bow down because you can sew a dress.""
Nathan moved toward her.
"That's enough.""
"No!"" Brittany shouted.
"I'm tired of pretending she deserves everything she has. She got the talent. She got the business. She got the money you can sew a dress.""
Nathan moved toward her.
"That's enough.""
"No!"" Brittany shouted.
"I'm tired of pretending she deserves everything she has. She got the talent. She got the business.
She got the money. And now she gets you, too.""
The room fell silent.
I stared at her.
"You wanted Nathan?""
She laughed bitterly.
"I wanted someone to choose me. And now she gets you, too.""
The room fell silent.
I stared at her.
"You wanted Nathan?""
She laughed bitterly.
"I wanted someone to choose me for once.""
Nathan's face softened for a moment, but his voice remained firm.
"That doesn't give you the right to destroy my relationship.""
"You don't understand. Mom said— for once.""
Nathan's face softened for a moment, but his voice remained firm.
"That doesn't give you the right to destroy my relationship.""
"You don't understand. Mom said—"
Brittany stopped.
Victoria closed her eyes.
I felt every muscle in my body tighten.
"Your mother said what?""
Brittany shook her head.
"Nothing.""
"No. Finish the sentence.""
She looked at Victoria.
Then she looked at"
Brittany stopped.
Victoria closed her eyes.
I felt every muscle in my body tighten.
"Your mother said what?""
Brittany shook her head.
"Nothing.""
"No. Finish the sentence.""
She looked at Victoria.
Then she looked at Nathan.
Finally, she whispered, "She said if I could prove Madison wasn't the person you thought she was, you'd reconsider the wedding.""
Nathan stared at his mother.
"You used my sister-in Nathan.
Finally, she whispered, "She said if I could prove Madison wasn't the person you thought she was, you'd reconsider the wedding.""
Nathan stared at his mother.
"You used my sister-in-law to sabotage my marriage?""
"I was trying to protect you!""
"By encouraging her to steal Madison's gown?""
"By showing you what kind of woman she really is!""
I placed the fraudulent memorandum on the desk.
"You-law to sabotage my marriage?""
"I was trying to protect you!""
"By encouraging her to steal Madison's gown?""
"By showing you what kind of woman she really is!""
I placed the fraudulent memorandum on the desk.
"You mean the woman who built a company from nothing, paid her employees on time, and refused to let her family control her life?""
Victoria's lips thinned.
"You have no idea what kind of mean the woman who built a company from nothing, paid her employees on time, and refused to let her family control her life?""
Victoria's lips thinned.
"You have no idea what kind of power you're marrying into.""
"No," I said.
"But I have a feeling I'm about to find out.""
Nathan reached for my hand.
"We're leaving this room.""
Before we could reach the door, Victoria spoke again.
"Go ahead. Walk away. But don't expect me to support this power you're marrying into.""
"No," I said.
"But I have a feeling I'm about to find out.""
Nathan reached for my hand.
"We're leaving this room.""
Before we could reach the door, Victoria spoke again.
"Go ahead. Walk away. But don't expect me to support this marriage.""
Nathan stopped.
"Mother, I don't need your support.""
"You will when the trust review begins.""
He turned slowly.
"What trust review?""
Victoria looked at me.
Then she smiled.
marriage.""
Nathan stopped.
"Mother, I don't need your support.""
"You will when the trust review begins.""
He turned slowly.
"What trust review?""
Victoria looked at me.
Then she smiled.
It was a small, cold smile that made me understand why Brittany had learned to treat cruelty like a game.
"Ask your bride what happened to the original trust documentsIt was a small, cold smile that made me understand why Brittany had learned to treat cruelty like a game.
"Ask your bride what happened to the original trust documents.""
I stared at her.
I had never seen the original trust documents.
My father had kept them in his private office, and after my grandmother's death, he had told me that the estate had been settled according to her wishes.
But Victoria spoke with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where.""
I stared at her.
I had never seen the original trust documents.
My father had kept them in his private office, and after my grandmother's death, he had told me that the estate had been settled according to her wishes.
But Victoria spoke with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where the documents were.
Nathan turned toward me.
"Madison?""
I swallowed.
"I don't know what she's talking about.""
Victoria picked up her handbag.
"Then I suggest you find out.""
She walked toward the door.
Brittany hurried after her, dragging the stolen train behind her.
At the documents were.
Nathan turned toward me.
"Madison?""
I swallowed.
"I don't know what she's talking about.""
Victoria picked up her handbag.
"Then I suggest you find out.""
She walked toward the door.
Brittany hurried after her, dragging the stolen train behind her.
At the threshold, Victoria paused.
"Oh, and Madison?""
I met her gaze.
"Enjoy your wedding. If you still have one by the time the the threshold, Victoria paused.
"Oh, and Madison?""
I met her gaze.
"Enjoy your wedding. If you still have one by the time the lawyers finish their work.""
The door closed.
Nathan and I stood alone in the library.
He pulled me into his arms.
"I'm sorry.""
I rested my forehead against his chest.
"For what?""
"For thinking this would be easy.""
I closed my eyes.
Then my phone vibrated.
An email from lawyers finish their work.""
The door closed.
Nathan and I stood alone in the library.
He pulled me into his arms.
"I'm sorry.""
I rested my forehead against his chest.
"For what?""
"For thinking this would be easy.""
I closed my eyes.
Then my phone vibrated.
An email from Grace.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: Unauthorized Access to Hayes Atelier Financial Records.*
I opened the message.
There was one attachment.
A scanned contract bearing my signature.
The contract transferred ownership of my entire design company to a holding corporation I Grace.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: Unauthorized Access to Hayes Atelier Financial Records.*
I opened the message.
There was one attachment.
A scanned contract bearing my signature.
May you like
The contract transferred ownership of my entire design company to a holding corporation I had never heard of.
And according to the date at the bottom, the transfer had been approved three days earlier.
